IAC has extended its Hirschmann product profile to include Ethernet switches from the new RSP family. These are especially designed for use in the field-level networks of power supply companies, but they can also be used in any situation where uninterrupted communication is required, for instance for mechanical engineering projects or drives for production facilities. These extremely robust fanless switches have 11 ports, three of which can be used for SFP transceivers.
The remaining eight ports can be used either for 100 BASE-TX or as a combination of four SFP transceivers and four TX ports. Additional features of these switches include comprehensive management, diagnostic and filter functions plus a variety of redundancy methods and markedly expanded security mechanisms. In addition to the standard configuration, Hirschmann also offers a version that supports highly precise synchronisation compliant with IEEE 1588v2, plus PRP (parallel redundancy protocol) and HSR (high-availability seamless redundancy). This means that it is now possible to implement networks that guarantee uninterrupted data communications with the attached systems and can thus, in the case of the electricity supply industry, guarantee reliable power supply to end customers at all times.
These switches, which comply with the standards and approvals of IEC 61850 3, IEEE 1613, EN 50121 4, NEMA TS2 and cUL 508, feature high vibration resistance and extensive resilience to magnetic fields and electrostatic discharges and an ambient temperature range from -40 to 70°C. The supply voltage may be either 24/48/60/120/250 VDC or 110/230 VAC.
With its new RSP Ethernet switches, Hirschmann is expanding Ethernet to cover the field-level networks of electricity supply companies. Product manager Jürgen Schmid says, “A modern IT infrastructure not only offers manifold possibilities, but also involves a number of risks from broken wires to hacker attacks. These new Hirschmann RSP switches give users maximum security and thus uninterrupted access to their application data communications.”
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